Manual for the Sacrifice to the Nine Planets and the Propitiation of Ganesha

First, the invocation of blessings original: Swasti is performed, followed by the installation Sthapana; the ritual "fixing" of a deity's presence into an object of the Lord of Obstacles Vighnaraja, an epithet for Ganesha and the Goddess Gauri. Then comes the formal selection of the Brahmins the priests who will conduct the ceremony, followed by the ritual preparation of the Seat of Brahma Brahmasana; a designated spot or seat for the priest representing the creator god Brahma to oversee the ritual. ॥ 1 ॥

Next is the installation of the ritual water pots Kalashas; copper or brass pots representing the presence of the divine, and the performance of hand gestures mudras over them. The preliminary fire ritual Kushandi; a standard set of preparatory rites for any Vedic fire sacrifice is performed up to the point of cooking the sacrificial porridge Charu; a mixture of grains, usually rice or barley, boiled with milk and butter. A minor worship original: Laghu Puja is then offered to both deities. ॥ 2 ॥

The ritual pouring of clarified butter and the preliminary rites continue through the offering of the butter-portions. For the patron seated upon the Brahma-seat, an anointing Udvartana with herbal paste original: keka; likely a specific medicinal or aromatic paste is then performed. ॥ 3 ॥

This is followed by anointment with fragrances and sacred clays, the presentation of the priestly fee dakshina, and the recitation of blessings. The patron is then bathed snapana using the water from the ritual pots, and an offering of sesame seeds Tila Homa is made over his head. ॥ 4 ॥

According to the patron’s wish, a bath is taken, followed by six offerings of the sacrificial porridge. The worship of Vinayaka Ganesha and Ambika Gauri/Parvati is performed, concluded by a final offering with joined palms original: purnahastipanjalih; a gesture of total surrender and completion. ॥ 5 ॥

Then comes the solemn vow Sankalpa; a formal statement of intent made at the start of a ritual for the worship and individual prayers of standing attendance upasthana for each deity. The fire ritual continues from the offering for the Fire-God's grace original: Svishtakrit; the 'well-made sacrifice' until the final dismissal of the deities visarjana. ॥ 6 ॥

The ritual concludes with the fees for the fire offering and other auspicious acts for the individual’s benefit. A food offering Bali; an oblation to spirits or secondary deities is made from the remains of the sacrificial porridge, followed by the release of the Form of Prosperity a final blessing to ensure the ritual's fruits remain with the patron. ॥ 7 ॥

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॥ Thus ends the Manual for the Pacification of Vinayaka Vinayaka Shanti Paddhati ॥ ॥ May there be prosperity! ॥ ॥ May it benefit the virtuous! ॥

॥ The Manual for the Pacification of Vinayaka, composed by Govindaji Dikshita, son of Mukundaji Dikshita, is now complete ॥ Written in the year 1766 approx. 1709 CE, on the second day of the bright half of the month of Chaitra, a Tuesday.

The scribe has added a practical recipe in a local dialect (Old Gujarati/Marathi) for making the very ink used to write such manuscripts.

Ingredients for Permanent Black Ink:
1 Tank a traditional unit of weight of borax, 1 paisa-weight of pomegranate rind, and 2 paisa-weights of catechu original: kayo; an extract of the acacia tree. Place these in an iron vessel and grind them thoroughly together.